In South Korea, startup SeaWith has struck a supply deal with the United Kingdom’s 3D Bio-Tissues that could slash the cost of its cultivated beef by 30%.
Price remains the biggest hurdle for consumer adoption in South Korea, where surveys show most citizens are open to trying lab-grown meat but reluctant to pay a premium.
Under the terms of the deal, 3D Bio-Tissues will provide its proprietary City-Mix cell culture media, which enhances growth efficiency and reduces reliance on costly inputs like fetal bovine serum. This innovation is expected to accelerate production and make SeaWith’s cultivated beef more economically viable.
SeaWith, known for its seaweed-based cultivation technology, plans to launch products under its Welldone brand, starting with beef meatballs.